diff --git a/plugins/steam.py b/plugins/steam.py
index b4230c6..140e780 100644
--- a/plugins/steam.py
+++ b/plugins/steam.py
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ def steamcalc(inp, nick='', db=None):
         out += soup.findAll('h1', {'class': 'header-title'})[1].text.strip()
     except Exception as e:
         print e
-        return u"\x02Unable to retrieve info for %s!\x02 Is it a valid SteamCommunity profile username (%s)? " \
-               "Check if your profile is private, or go here to search: %s" % (
+        return u"\x02Unable to retrieve info for {}!\x02 Is it a valid SteamCommunity profile username ({})? " \
+               "Check if your profile is private, or go here to search: {}".format(
                    inp, web.try_isgd("http://steamcommunity.com/id/%s" % inp), web.try_isgd(url))
 
     nextone = False
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ def steamcalc(inp, nick='', db=None):
     notplayed = data[2].text.split(" ")[-1]
     nppercent = data[3].text.split(" ")[-1]
     time = data[4].text.split(" ")[-1].replace("h", "hours")
-    out += " This account is worth \x02%s\x02, and they've spent \x02%s\x02 playing games! " % (money, time)
-    out += " They have \x02%s games\x02, but \x02%s of them haven't been touched\x02! That's \x02%s\x02! " % (
+    out += " This account is worth \x02{}\x02, and they've spent \x02{}\x02 playing games! ".format(money, time)
+    out += " They have \x02{} games\x02, but \x02{} of them haven't been touched\x02! That's \x02{}\x02! ".format(
         totalgames, notplayed, nppercent)
 
     if not dontsave:
diff --git a/plugins/stock.py b/plugins/stock.py
index 234ac2d..d2d40c5 100755
--- a/plugins/stock.py
+++ b/plugins/stock.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def stock(inp):
             guess = guess[0]["symbol"]
             return stock(guess)
         else:
-            return "error: unable to get stock info for '%s'" % inp
+            return "error: unable to get stock info for '{}'".format(inp)
 
     if results['last'] == '0.00':
         return "%(company)s - last known stock value was 0.00 %(currency)s" \
diff --git a/plugins/system.py b/plugins/system.py
index 40a60f1..e8489d1 100755
--- a/plugins/system.py
+++ b/plugins/system.py
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ def system(inp):
     python_ver = platform.python_version()
     architecture = '-'.join(platform.architecture())
     cpu = platform.machine()
-    return "Hostname: \x02%s\x02, Operating System: \x02%s\x02, Python " \
-           "Version: \x02%s %s\x02, Architecture: \x02%s\x02, CPU: \x02%s" \
-           "\x02" % (hostname, os, python_imp, python_ver, architecture, cpu)
+    return "Hostname: \x02{}\x02, Operating System: \x02{}\x02, Python " \
+           "Version: \x02{} {}\x02, Architecture: \x02{}\x02, CPU: \x02{}" \
+           "\x02".format(hostname, os, python_imp, python_ver, architecture, cpu)
 
 
 @hook.command(autohelp=False)
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@ def memory(inp):
         data = [float(i.replace(' kB', '')) for i in data]
         strings = [convert_kilobytes(i) for i in data]
         # prepare the output
-        out = "Threads: \x02%s\x02, Real Memory: \x02%s\x02, Allocated Memory: \x02%s\x02, Peak " \
-              "Allocated Memory: \x02%s\x02, Stack Size: \x02%s\x02, Heap " \
-              "Size: \x02%s\x02" % (s['Threads'], strings[0], strings[1], strings[2],
+        out = "Threads: \x02{}\x02, Real Memory: \x02{}\x02, Allocated Memory: \x02{}\x02, Peak " \
+              "Allocated Memory: \x02{}\x02, Stack Size: \x02{}\x02, Heap " \
+              "Size: \x02{}\x02".format(s['Threads'], strings[0], strings[1], strings[2],
               strings[3], strings[4])
         # return output
         return out
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def memory(inp):
         for amount in re.findall(r'([,0-9]+) K', out):
             memory += float(amount.replace(',', ''))
         memory = convert_kilobytes(memory)
-        return "Memory Usage: \x02%s\x02" % memory
+        return "Memory Usage: \x02{}\x02".format(memory)
 
     else:
         return "Sorry, this command is not supported on your OS."
@@ -66,10 +66,10 @@ def uptime(inp, bot=None):
     """uptime -- Shows the bot's uptime."""
     uptime_raw = round(time.time() - bot.start_time)
     uptime = timedelta(seconds=uptime_raw)
-    return "Uptime: \x02%s\x02" % uptime
+    return "Uptime: \x02{}\x02".format(uptime)
 
 
 @hook.command(autohelp=False)
 def pid(inp):
     """pid -- Prints the bot's PID."""
-    return "PID: \x02%s\x02" % os.getpid()
+    return "PID: \x02{}\x02".format(os.getpid())
diff --git a/plugins/tell.py b/plugins/tell.py
index 9bcc7b0..bf0d887 100755
--- a/plugins/tell.py
+++ b/plugins/tell.py
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ def tellinput(paraml, input=None, notice=None, db=None, bot=None, nick=None, con
         user_from, message, time, chan = tells[0]
         reltime = timesince.timesince(time)
 
-        reply = "%s sent you a message %s ago from %s: %s" % (user_from, reltime, chan,
+        reply = "{} sent you a message {} ago from {}: {}".format(user_from, reltime, chan,
                                                               message)
         if len(tells) > 1:
-            reply += " (+%d more, %sshowtells to view)" % (len(tells) - 1, conn.conf["command_prefix"])
+            reply += " (+{} more, {}showtells to view)".format(len(tells) - 1, conn.conf["command_prefix"])
 
         db.execute("delete from tell where user_to=lower(?) and message=?",
                    (nick, message))
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def showtells(inp, nick='', chan='', notice=None, db=None):
     for tell in tells:
         user_from, message, time, chan = tell
         past = timesince.timesince(time)
-        notice("%s sent you a message %s ago from %s: %s" % (user_from, past, chan, message))
+        notice("{} sent you a message {} ago from {}: {}".format(user_from, past, chan, message))
 
     db.execute("delete from tell where user_to=lower(?)",
                (nick,))
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def tell(inp, nick='', chan='', db=None, input=None, notice=None):
 
     if user_to.lower() == input.conn.nick.lower():
         # user is looking for us, being a smartass
-        notice("Thanks for the message, %s!" % user_from)
+        notice("Thanks for the message, {}!".format(user_from))
         return
 
     if not re.match("^[A-Za-z0-9_|.-\]\[]*$", user_to.lower()):
diff --git a/plugins/time.py b/plugins/time.py
index b8a18cb..b508522 100755
--- a/plugins/time.py
+++ b/plugins/time.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ api_url = 'http://api.wolframalpha.com/v2/query?format=plaintext'
 def time_command(inp, bot=None):
     """time <area> -- Gets the time in <area>"""
 
-    query = "current time in %s" % inp
+    query = "current time in {}".format(inp)
 
     api_key = bot.config.get("api_keys", {}).get("wolframalpha", None)
     if not api_key:
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ def time_command(inp, bot=None):
             place = capitalize_first(" ".join(request.xpath("//pod[@"
                                                             "title='Input interpretation']/subpod/plaintext/text()"))[
                                      16:])
-        return "%s - \x02%s\x02" % (time, place)
+        return "{} - \x02{}\x02".format(time, place)
     else:
-        return "Could not get the time for '%s'." % inp
+        return "Could not get the time for '{}'.".format(inp)
 
 
 @hook.command(autohelp=False)
diff --git a/plugins/todo.py b/plugins/todo.py
index 65c4fce..d18177d 100755
--- a/plugins/todo.py
+++ b/plugins/todo.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def todo(inp, nick='', chan='', db=None, notice=None, bot=None):
         if not row:
             notice("No such entry.")
             return
-        notice("[%d]: %s: %s" % (index, row[0], row[1]))
+        notice("[{}]: {}: {}".format(index, row[0], row[1]))
     elif cmd == 'del' or cmd == 'delete' or cmd == 'remove':
         if not len(args):
             return "error"
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def todo(inp, nick='', chan='', db=None, notice=None, bot=None):
 
         rows = db_del(db, nick, index)
 
-        notice("Deleted %d entries" % rows.rowcount)
+        notice("Deleted {} entries".format(rows.rowcount))
     elif cmd == 'list':
         limit = -1
 
@@ -163,11 +163,11 @@ def todo(inp, nick='', chan='', db=None, notice=None, bot=None):
         found = False
 
         for (index, row) in enumerate(rows):
-            notice("[%d]: %s: %s" % (index, row[0], row[1]))
+            notice("[{}]: {}: {}".format(index, row[0], row[1]))
             found = True
 
         if not found:
-            notice("%s has no entries." % nick)
+            notice("{} has no entries.".format(nick))
     elif cmd == 'search':
         if not len(args):
             notice("No search query given!")
@@ -178,11 +178,11 @@ def todo(inp, nick='', chan='', db=None, notice=None, bot=None):
         found = False
 
         for (index, row) in enumerate(rows):
-            notice("[%d]: %s: %s" % (index, row[0], row[1]))
+            notice("[{}]: {}: {}".format(index, row[0], row[1]))
             found = True
 
         if not found:
-            notice("%s has no matching entries for: %s" % (nick, query))
+            notice("{} has no matching entries for: {}".format(nick, query))
 
     else:
-        notice("Unknown command: %s" % cmd)
+        notice("Unknown command: {}".format(cmd))
diff --git a/plugins/tvdb.py b/plugins/tvdb.py
index 18f02eb..22a5cd7 100755
--- a/plugins/tvdb.py
+++ b/plugins/tvdb.py
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ def get_episode_info(episode, api_key):
     if episode_name == "TBA":
         episode_name = None
 
-    episode_desc = '%s' % episode_num
+    episode_desc = '{}'.format(episode_num)
     if episode_name:
-        episode_desc += ' - %s' % episode_name
+        episode_desc += ' - {}'.format(episode_name)
     return first_aired, airdate, episode_desc
 
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def tv_next(inp, bot=None):
     episodes = episodes["episodes"]
 
     if ended:
-        return "%s has ended." % series_name
+        return "{} has ended.".format(series_name)
 
     next_eps = []
     today = datetime.date.today()
@@ -114,22 +114,22 @@ def tv_next(inp, bot=None):
         (first_aired, airdate, episode_desc) = ep_info
 
         if airdate > today:
-            next_eps = ['%s (%s)' % (first_aired, episode_desc)]
+            next_eps = ['{} ({})'.format(first_aired, episode_desc)]
         elif airdate == today:
-            next_eps = ['Today (%s)' % episode_desc] + next_eps
+            next_eps = ['Today ({})'.format(episode_desc)] + next_eps
         else:
             #we're iterating in reverse order with newest episodes last
             #so, as soon as we're past today, break out of loop
             break
 
     if not next_eps:
-        return "There are no new episodes scheduled for %s." % series_name
+        return "There are no new episodes scheduled for {}.".format(series_name)
 
     if len(next_eps) == 1:
-        return "The next episode of %s airs %s" % (series_name, next_eps[0])
+        return "The next episode of {} airs {}".format(series_name, next_eps[0])
     else:
         next_eps = ', '.join(next_eps)
-        return "The next episodes of %s: %s" % (series_name, next_eps)
+        return "The next episodes of {}: {}".format(series_name, next_eps)
 
 
 @hook.command
@@ -163,11 +163,11 @@ def tv_last(inp, bot=None):
         if airdate < today:
             #iterating in reverse order, so the first episode encountered
             #before today was the most recently aired
-            prev_ep = '%s (%s)' % (first_aired, episode_desc)
+            prev_ep = '{} ({})'.format(first_aired, episode_desc)
             break
 
     if not prev_ep:
-        return "There are no previously aired episodes for %s." % series_name
+        return "There are no previously aired episodes for {}.".format(series_name)
     if ended:
-        return '%s ended. The last episode aired %s.' % (series_name, prev_ep)
-    return "The last episode of %s aired %s." % (series_name, prev_ep)
+        return '{} ended. The last episode aired {}.'.format(series_name, prev_ep)
+    return "The last episode of {} aired {}.".format(series_name, prev_ep)
diff --git a/plugins/validate.py b/plugins/validate.py
index f0de8c1..56a04fc 100755
--- a/plugins/validate.py
+++ b/plugins/validate.py
@@ -22,5 +22,5 @@ def validate(inp):
     if status in ("valid", "invalid"):
         errorcount = info['x-w3c-validator-errors']
         warningcount = info['x-w3c-validator-warnings']
-        return "%s was found to be %s with %s errors and %s warnings." \
-                " see: %s" % (inp, status, errorcount, warningcount, url)
+        return "{} was found to be {} with {} errors and {} warnings." \
+                " see: {}".format(inp, status, errorcount, warningcount, url)
diff --git a/plugins/valvesounds.py b/plugins/valvesounds.py
index 2b88312..54d8a6c 100644
--- a/plugins/valvesounds.py
+++ b/plugins/valvesounds.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def getSoundInfo(url, inp, jsondata=False):
                     else:
                         text = textsplit[i]
         if not jsondata:
-            return "%s - %s %s" % (newdata[0]["who"],
+            return "{} - {} {}".format(newdata[0]["who"],
                                    text if len(text) < 325 else text[:325] + "...",
                                    web.try_isgd(
                                        url + newdata[0]["id"] if not dostream else url + "sound.php?id=" + newdata[0][
diff --git a/plugins/wikipedia.py b/plugins/wikipedia.py
index 043a708..58984cc 100755
--- a/plugins/wikipedia.py
+++ b/plugins/wikipedia.py
@@ -46,4 +46,4 @@ def wiki(inp):
 
     desc = text.truncate_str(desc, 200)
 
-    return '%s :: %s' % (desc, http.quote(url, ':/'))
+    return '{} :: {}'.format(desc, http.quote(url, ':/'))
diff --git a/plugins/wolframalpha.py b/plugins/wolframalpha.py
index d4578f5..879b771 100755
--- a/plugins/wolframalpha.py
+++ b/plugins/wolframalpha.py
@@ -54,4 +54,4 @@ def wolframalpha(inp, bot=None):
     if not ret:
         return 'No results.'
 
-    return "%s - %s" % (ret, short_url)
+    return "{} - {}".format(ret, short_url)